SAINT PETER, Minn. – Men’s track and field student-athlete Taylor Rooney (Jr., Andover) and women’s diver Sophia Steinberg (Jr., Faribault) have been named Gustavus Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Month, which is voted on by the Gustavus Sports Information Department and presented by Thrivent Financial.
Taylor Rooney
Track and Field
Hometown: Andover, Minn.
High School: Andover
Major: Economics
Parent: Thomas Rooney
Taylor Rooney continues to make his name known across Division III track and field, kicking off the 2020 season with performances that garnered national recognition. Rooney’s time of 8.10 in the 60m hurdles at the MSU Invite earned him USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week Honors as well as MIAC Athlete of the Week. It marked the first time in Gustavus track and field history that an athlete was been named National Athlete of the Week during the indoor season. Rooney also competed in the high jump at MSU, and his 1.95m jump is currently tied for second in the conference. The following week, Rooney tied his Division III leading time of 8.03 in the prelims of the 60m hurdles at the St. Olaf Quad. He was also a member of the 4×200 relay team that placed first with a time of 1:33.60. For his efforts at St. Olaf, he was awarded with his second straight MIAC Athlete of the Week honor.
Sophia Steinberg
Swimming and Diving
Hometown: Faribault, Minn.
High School: Faribault
Major: Sociology/Anthropology
Sophia Steinberg currently holds the fifth-best score out of all Division III women’s divers in the 3-meter dive after posting a 488.10 in a dual against Saint Benedict. She also posted a 440.25 on the same day in the 1-meter dive, which broke Heather Funai’s five-year-old school record of 398.95. For her performances, Steinberg was named MIAC Athlete of the Week for the final week in January. At the beginning of the month, Steinberg helped her team defeat Carleton by winning the 1- and 3-meter dives with scores of 237.90 and 228.15, respectively. She took second in both diving events at the UW-Stevens Point Invite by posting a 394.50 in the 1-meter and a 383.30 in the 3-meter. Her efforts helped her team finish in second place at the invite.